NORWICH — A Saturday morning sign-up session for Connecticut’s new health insurance marketplace offered participants the one-on-one guidance and help they can’t get by only using the state’s website.

About 30 people were present at the start of the enrollment fair in the community room at Otis Library, and more came throughout the free four-hour event.

They included Kim Strachan, a teacher from Groton who said she is between insurers.

“I feel it would be really helpful for someone to walk me through the process,” Strachan said as she and about 15 others waited for their turn to use one of nine computer workstations set up to provide information and set up accounts.

Access Health CT, the state-run marketplace, had five employees at the event to help attendees navigate the website and get information about setting up accounts and choosing a plan. Licensed insurance brokers also were available to advise participants on plans.

“A person can come here and see what benefits they can get on the exchange, and see if they qualify for tax subsidies or cost savings reductions that will help them afford health insurance and purchase it individually,” said Jonathan Pattillo, a community outreach team member for Access Health CT.

The process can take as little as 20 or 30 minutes for a single person, Pattillo said. Similar enrollment fairs will be held in eight other Connecticut communities in the coming week.

Woodstock resident Beverly Brazeal didn’t pick a plan, but she was able to set up an account for later use.

“I have more research to do,” Brazeal said. “It helped me. It was much faster going through setup here than if I was by myself at home.”

“Finally, after three years, I’m going to be able to have insurance,” Merrylyn Weaver, of New London, said after completing the session.

Weaver said she didn’t find the sign-up to be complicated. She’d brought required paperwork with her and was assisted by Access Health CT staff.

Weaver was glad the event was being held in Norwich.

“I see others happening in New Britain and Hartford, and thought that was a little far to travel,” she said. New Britain is home to the state’s first so-called “insurance store.”

The latest figures show Connecticut’s health insurance marketplace has so far enrolled a total of 13,128 people since Oct. 1.